पाद्यमर्घ्यं तथाऽऽतिथ्यं चकार सुसमाहिता। प्रतिजग्राह काकुत्स्थो विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा
With full composure, she offered water for washing feet, hospitality, and gifts; Kakutstha accepted them according to prescribed rites.
पुष्पवृष्टिर्महत्यासीद् देवदुन्दुभिनिःस्वनैः। गन्धर्वाप्सरसां चैव महानासीत् समुत्सवः
A great shower of flowers occurred, accompanied by the sound of divine drums; there was a grand celebration among Gandharvas and Apsarases.
साधु साध्विति देवास्तामहल्यां समपूजयन्। तपोबलविशुद्धाङ्गीं गौतमस्य वशानुगाम्
The gods praised Ahalyā, saying 'Excellent, excellent!'—her body purified by the power of austerity, obedient to Gautama's will.
गौतमोऽपि महातेजा अहल्यासहितः सुखी। रामं सम्पूज्य विधिवत् तपस्तेपे महातपाः
Gautama, of great brilliance, together with Ahalyā, was happy; having properly honored Rāma, the great ascetic resumed his austerities.
रामोऽपि परमां पूजां गौतमस्य महामुनेः। सकाशाद् विधिवत् प्राप्य जगाम मिथिलां ततः
Rāma, too, having received the highest honor from the great sage Gautama according to proper rites, then departed for Mithilā.
thumb|पञ्चाशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे बालकाण्डे पञ्चाशः सर्गः ॥१-
Let the fiftieth chapter be heard in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, in the Bāla Kāṇḍa, chapter fifty.
ततः प्रागुत्तरां गत्वा रामः सौमित्रिणा सह। विश्वामित्रं पुरस्कृत्य यज्ञवाटमुपागमत्
Then, proceeding northeast, Rāma, together with Saumitri, approached the sacrificial enclosure, led by Viśvāmitra.
रामस्तु मुनिशार्दूलमुवाच सहलक्ष्मणः। साध्वी यज्ञसमृद्धिर्हि जनकस्य महात्मनः
Rāma spoke to the foremost sage, together with Lakṣmaṇa: 'Indeed, the sacrificial prosperity of Janaka, the great-souled one, is admirable.'
बहूनीह सहस्राणि नानादेशनिवासिनाम्। ब्राह्मणानां महाभाग वेदाध्ययनशालिनाम्
Here are thousands of highly fortunate Brāhmaṇas from various regions, devoted to Vedic study.
ऋषिवाटाश्च दृश्यन्ते शकटीशतसंकुलाः। देशो विधीयतां ब्रह्मन् यत्र वत्स्यामहे वयम्
Hermitages of sages are seen, crowded with hundreds of carts; O Brāhmaṇa, designate a place where we may stay.
रामस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः। निवासमकरोद् देशे विविक्ते सलिलान्विते
Hearing Rāma's words, Viśvāmitra, the great sage, arranged a dwelling in a secluded place with water.
विश्वामित्रमनुप्राप्तं श्रुत्वा नृपवरस्तदा। शतानन्दं पुरस्कृत्य पुरोहितमनिन्दितः
Hearing that Viśvāmitra had arrived, the foremost king, faultless, with Śatānanda the chief priest before him,
ऋत्विजोऽपि महात्मानस्त्वर्घ्यमादाय सत्वरम्। प्रत्युज्जगाम सहसा विनयेन समन्वितः
The great-souled officiating priests, too, quickly took the offering and went forth at once, accompanied by reverence.
विश्वामित्राय धर्मेण ददौ धर्मपुरस्कृतम्। प्रतिगृह्य तु तां पूजां जनकस्य महात्मनः
Janaka, with righteousness foremost, gave the honored gift to Viśvāmitra in accordance with dharma; and Viśvāmitra, having received that homage from the great-souled Janaka,
पप्रच्छ कुशलं राज्ञो यज्ञस्य च निरामयम्। स तांश्चाथ मुनीन् पृष्ट्वा सोपाध्यायपुरोधसः
Asked after the king’s welfare and the flawless progress of the sacrifice; then, having inquired of the sages, with their teachers and priests,
यथार्हमृषिभिः सर्वैः समागच्छत् प्रहृष्टवत्। अथ राजा मुनिश्रेष्ठं कृताञ्जलिरभाषत
He met with all the sages as was proper, joyfully; then the king, with hands joined, spoke to the foremost sage.
आसने भगवानास्तां सहैभिर्मुनिपुंगवैः। जनकस्य वचः श्रुत्वा निषसाद महामुनिः
The venerable sage sat upon the seat, together with the eminent sages, having heard Janaka’s words, the great sage took his place.
पुरोधा ऋत्विजश्चैव राजा च सहमन्त्रिभिः। आसनेषु यथान्यायमुपविष्टाः समन्ततः
The priests, officiants, and the king with his counselors, all sat upon their seats as was fitting, arranged all around.
दृष्ट्वा स नृपतिस्तत्र विश्वामित्रमथाब्रवीत्। अद्य यज्ञसमृद्धिर्मे सफला दैवतैः कृता
Seeing Viśvāmitra there, the king spoke: ‘Today the success of my sacrifice has been fulfilled by the gods.’
अद्य यज्ञफलं प्राप्तं भगवद्दर्शनान्मया। धन्योऽस्म्यनुगृहीतोऽस्मि यस्य मे मुनिपुंगवः
Today I have attained the fruit of the sacrifice by the sight of the revered one; blessed and favored am I, for whom the eminent sage has come.
यज्ञोपसदनं ब्रह्मन् प्राप्तोऽसि मुनिभिः सह। द्वादशाहं तु ब्रह्मर्षे दीक्षामाहुर्मनीषिणः
O Brahman, you have arrived at the sacrificial enclosure with the sages; the wise declare that the consecration lasts twelve days, O Brahmarṣi.
ततो भागार्थिनो देवान् द्रष्टुमर्हसि कौशिक। इत्युक्त्वा मुनिशार्दूलं प्रहृष्टवदनस्तदा
Therefore, Kauśika, you should behold the gods who seek their shares; having spoken thus to the tiger among sages, his face radiant with joy,
पुनस्तं परिपप्रच्छ प्राञ्जलिः प्रयतो नृपः। इमौ कुमारौ भद्रं ते देवतुल्यपराक्रमौ
Again, with joined palms and devotion, the king respectfully asked: ‘May you be blessed! Who are these two youths, equal to the gods in valor?’
गजतुल्यगती वीरौ शार्दूलवृषभोपमौ। पद्मपत्रविशालाक्षौ खड्गतूणीधनुर्धरौ। अश्विनाविव रूपेण समुपस्थितयौवनौ
Heroes whose gait rivals that of elephants, resembling tigers and bulls, with broad lotus-like eyes, bearing swords, quivers, and bows; in beauty, like the Aśvins, standing at the threshold of youth.
यदृच्छयेव गां प्राप्तौ देवलोकादिवामरौ। कथं पद्भ्यामिह प्राप्तौ किमर्थं कस्य वा मुने
Arrived on earth as if by chance, like immortals from the realm of the gods; how have they come here on foot, for what purpose, and whose are they, O sage?
वरायुधधरौ वीरौ कस्य पुत्रौ महामुने। भूषयन्ताविमं देशं चन्द्रसूर्याविवाम्बरम्
Heroes bearing excellent weapons, whose sons are they, O great sage? They adorn this land as the moon and sun adorn the sky.
परस्परस्य सदृशौ प्रमाणेङ्गितचेष्टितैः। काकपक्षधरौ वीरौ श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः
Resembling each other in stature, gestures, and movements; heroes with locks like crow’s wings, I wish to hear the truth about them.
तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा जनकस्य महात्मनः। न्यवेदयदमेयात्मा पुत्रौ दशरथस्य तौ
Hearing these words of the great-souled Janaka, the immeasurable sage revealed: ‘They are the sons of Daśaratha.’
सिद्धाश्रमनिवासं च राक्षसानां वधं तथा। तत्रागमनमव्यग्रं विशालायाश्च दर्शनम्
He told of their residence at Siddhāśrama, the slaying of the rākṣasas, their untroubled arrival there, and the sight of Viśālā.
अहल्यादर्शनं चैव गौतमेन समागमम्। महाधनुषि जिज्ञासां कर्तुमागमनं तथा
The sight of Ahalya, her reunion with Gautama, and the coming here to test the great bow—